According to The Hill, the GOP has some major changes planned.  About time!

I've made some fascinating additions to yesterday's Subway Canaries expose on the non Republican Right.  I've also done some additional research on what is going down with the band of merry little minutemen, et. al.  Well....something stinks....I think it is the foul odor of corruption.  I just think before all of this is over someone is either going to go to jail or go down in flames.  I keep telling your poor, misguided minutemen et. al flunkies we have a problem.  You are hitching your star to some shady flim-flam artists. 

Rudy says the GOP should stay on the offensive and be optomistic.  I couldn't say this better:

"For the past six months, I've been traveling across the country campaigning for Republican candidates. Conventional wisdom from Washington predicts a tough year for the party. By playing offense, solidifying our ranks and reaching out to Reagan Democrats and Independents, I believe that Republicans have reason to be optimistic. Because on the big issues Americans care about - from national security to the economy to the Supreme Court - Republican leadership has delivered time and again on its promises...."

What would a Speaker Pelosi do?  How about cut and run in Iraq?

NRO has some absolutely fascinating news about late breaking poll numbers.  So does Strata-Sphere.  Okay, I know, I promised to behave myself, but I can't.  I love this stuff and won't get another 'fix' like this for two years.  Pathetic isn't it?  The worst thing, last night I was talking to a relative whose identity I will not reveal out of public humiliation (every family has one).  This "person" actually said all politicians are crooked and Harold Ford, Jr. is not as bad as Corker.  Granted if I were living in that specific state of confusion I would consider Corker less than perfect (as is the NM GOP candidate for governor - FYI - I'm writing in Alfred A. Newman). 

But, I kept trying to explain to this person that when they start bellyaching over judges, just go look in the mirror if Ford is elected.  Lord have mercy!  I was listening to a replay of Ford's interview on H&C last week.  He talks a good conservative game.  Problem is, if he were to live up to half his campaign promises about being "bi" (partsian) he will go the way of Lieberman.  I wish people who weren't politically savy would somehow understand these things!  There are probably some perfectly good Dems out there.  Problem is their leadership (unlike our wimpy bunch of cowards) keeps them whipped into line.  Once upon a time, when Joe Skeen was around, he was the one the GOP called in for just that reason.  Unfortunately he's no longer with us. 

I think it is about time we check up an see what our dear little minutemen, et. al friends are doing with all that glorious money they raised from unsuspecting,  hard-working, decent people.   The Wash Times has the same idea.  Guess what they are doing with their money?  They are funneling it through Alan Keyes to various conservative anti immigration candidates - NOT - what the money was intended to be used for originally.

"...Claiming access to 500,000 households nationwide, the Minuteman PAC has pledged to do what it can financially to help elect "committed and principled conservative leaders" -- citing as examples MCDC President Chris Simcox and Mr. Keyes.
    "Our intent is to secure our borders, and we are hoping to influence the elections to get that done," said Rick Shafton, a political consultant in Sparta, N.J., who recently signed on as spokesman for the Minuteman PAC. "The Minuteman movement has proven to be very popular across the country, and it is raising a lot of money."
    According to the most recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, the Minuteman PAC spent $240,000 through the first week of September on eight congressional campaigns, although just $5,000 was direct candidate contributions.
    The FEC records also show that about 60 percent of the Minuteman PAC's expenditures through early September went to private companies -- several with ties to a labyrinth of Virginia-based tax-exempt charities and fundraising groups founded or headed by Mr. Keyes. The money was used for direct-mail fundraisers, telemarketing programs, advertising campaigns and disbursement fees for four candidates.
    The Minuteman PAC spent nearly $88,000 through early September on its own operations, including fees to many of the Keyes-aligned private firms to collect and disburse donations and do direct-mail fundraising, the FEC records show. Other PAC money went to Web site construction, bank charges, salaries and advertising.
    Unanswered questions
    The committee claims to be a "membership-only" organization, reporting to the FEC through its sponsor, Declaration Alliance, a tax-exempt Virginia-based charity founded by Mr. Keyes. It calls itself the "political counterpart" to MCDC, and the vast majority of those who contributed money listed themselves as "retired..."

Wait, it only gets better....I have copied and pasted directly from the WTimes article because it is so detailed and so important.

"...Mr. Simcox is listed on the Minuteman PAC's Web site, www.minutemanpac.com, as the honorary chairman and is the only person publicly identified with the committee, but FEC records show it is headed by a longtime Keyes associate, Reston, Va., accountant William L. Constantine. No other officers are listed.
    Mr. Constantine also is treasurer and chief financial officer for Declaration Alliance, the Declaration Alliance PAC Inc. (DAPAC) and the Declaration Foundation, another Virginia-based, tax-exempt organization headed by Mr. Keyes. He also was the accountant for Mr. Keyes' 2004 senatorial race in Illinois.
    Mr. Shafton described Mr. Constantine as a "highly competent accountant with vast experience in the operation of political action committees" but said that he, along with Mr. Simcox and Mary Parker Lewis decide which candidates to endorse and financially support.
    Mrs. Lewis is president and chief operating officer at Politechs Inc., a Los Angeles-based political consulting firm.
    He said the three agreed a few months ago on a list of potential candidates the PAC could support and then put its money "where we could make a difference."
    Mr. Shafton also is president of Mountaintop Media Inc., a political consulting firm that received more than $141,000 in Minuteman PAC funds through early September. The money was used to advertise fundraisers for Republican House candidates Tim Walberg in Michigan; Sharron Angle, who lost a House primary in Nevada; and former State Rep. Randy Graf in Arizona.
    Mrs. Lewis, who serves as a key adviser to the MCDC, is a top official in several of the tax-exempt fundraising organizations chaired or founded by Mr. Keyes. She served as chief of staff during his failed 1996 and 2000 presidential races and in his unsuccessful 2004 senatorial race against Barack Obama in Illinois.
    She also is executive director of the Declaration Foundation and chief of staff at Renew America, another tax-exempt fundraising organization founded by Mr. Keyes. She also is president and chief executive officer at DAPAC, according to FEC records.
    Sharing the wealth
    Several current and former Minuteman members and supporters told The Washington Times that they have been deluged with requests for money from various conservative organizations since the Minuteman PAC was formed.
    Response Unlimited, which calls itself the "best and most comprehensive source of mailing lists for conservative and Christian mailers and telemarketers," offers the names and contact information of Minuteman donors for $120 for 1,000 names. The Waynesboro, Va., firm, headed by Christian right activist Philip Zodhiates, also has an "exclusive contract" with the Declaration Foundation.
    Mrs. Lewis introduced Mr. Simcox and Minuteman founder James Gilchrist to Mr. Keyes during a meeting in Washington shortly after they began the Minuteman Project in Arizona in April 2005. She later was instrumental in getting the Minuteman leaders to agree to let Virginia-based Diener Consulting Inc. put together its "media plan."
    Mr. Keyes, in a written statement, said his "declaration organizations" became involved with MCDC in early 2005, "believing that border security is a fundamental issue affecting American national security, sovereignty and public safety."
    He said he has sought to do "all in my power to assist the Minutemen's growth into a national civic movement as quickly as possible."
    "I have full faith and confidence in the professionals who are responsible for ensuring that the declaration organizations adhere to all statutory obligations in our efforts assisting the Minuteman mission," he said.
    The Minuteman PAC's "statement of organization," filed with the FEC on June 16, lists its address as 2400 Earlsgate Court in Reston -- the same one listed in FEC documents for Declaration Foundation, Declaration Alliance, DAPAC and RightMarch.com, which raised $500,000 for Mr. Keyes' 2004 senatorial campaign and helps raise Minuteman donations through a link on its Web site to Declaration Alliance.
    RightMarch.com is headed by conservative activist William Greene. The group's media director, Phil Sheldon, is president of Diener Consulting. Diener Consulting not only handles media relations for MCDC but a Diener official, Peter Kunz, manages the Minuteman border fence project.
    Mr. Sheldon also is involved with Response Enterprises, which collects Minuteman PAC donations. It also is tied to Mr. Keyes' declaration foundations.
    The Minuteman PAC, initially listed as the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps PAC Inc., changed its name in August to the Declaration Alliance Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. PAC Inc., when Mr. Constantine filed an amended statement of organization with the FEC.
    In addition to Mr. Graf, the Minuteman PAC also contributed $1,000 each directly to Republican Reps. John Hostettler of Indiana, Steve King of Iowa and Tom Tancredo of Colorado, Mr. Gilchrist, who lost a congressional race in California.
    The committee also has targeted 25 Senate and House Democrats for defeat in 2006 as part of its "battle plan" to recruit, endorse and financially support candidates. The targeted Democrats include Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Dianne Feinstein of California, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert Menendez of New Jersey, and Rep. John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania...."

Golly Gee, we've been so busy with the political that we're missing all of the fun.  From our friends over at the SPLC comes even more fun and games from mid October.  We are definately having fun boys and girls!  And the Oct FEC report...

"...The Oregonian reports  [USA] Minuteman PAC finances questioned
October 16, 2006 / The Washington Times

A political action committee created by the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, whose financial accountability has been challenged by MCDC members, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to support Republican candidates -- much of it through private companies with ties to conservative activist Alan Keyes. […]

According to the most recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, the Minuteman PAC spent $240,000 through the first week of September on eight congressional campaigns, although just $5,000 was direct candidate contributions.

The FEC records also show that about 60 percent of the Minuteman PAC's expenditures through early September went to private companies -- several with ties to a labyrinth of Virginia-based tax-exempt charities and fundraising groups founded or headed by Mr. Keyes.

The money was used for direct-mail fundraisers, telemarketing programs, advertising campaigns and disbursement fees for four candidates.

The Minuteman PAC spent nearly $88,000 through early September on its own operations, including fees to many of the Keyes-aligned private firms to collect and disburse donations and do direct-mail fundraising, the FEC records show. Other PAC money went to Web site construction, bank charges, salaries and advertising. […] ..."

This is the October 2006 FEC report of where their money went.  Then we have the newly evolved Alan Keyes backed MDwhatever it is.  They are piling thousands upon thousands of dollars into Randy Graf.  We're talking nearly $50,000!  It looks to me like the whole thing is designed to funnel money into Randy Graf's campaign.  To get a complete picture, you need to check out the Declaration Alliance and their disbursments and their disclosure reports.

And there is this little beauty from the SPLC.  Remember how Simcox and his bunch promised we would know all by their Nov. filings.  Well, we're starting to get the picture, and it is is a little sleezy!  Okay, I'm loving this!

"...Gilchrist and Simcox publicly battled for control and camera time during the original Minuteman Project, when Simcox's high-handed leadership style earned him the sarcastic sobriquet, "The Little Prince." But following the conclusion of the month-long "citizens border patrol" operation in Arizona last April, the co-founders appeared to arrange an amicable parting and division of the public relations spoils. Gilchrist kept the Minuteman Project name and announced he was handing over "border watch" operations to Simcox, who would manage them as president of a new group, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. As head of the Minuteman Project, Gilchrist said he would focus on pressuring employers not to hire illegal immigrants, what he called "internal vigilance."

It's unclear how the Minuteman Project co-founders divvied up the donations received while the month-long operation was under way -- or if the donations were divvied at all. Mike Gaddy, the former MCDC field coordinator and former president of its New Mexico chapter, told the Intelligence Report that Simcox kept most, if not all, the money for himself.

Gaddy, who worked side-by-side with Simcox during the original Minuteman Project, said the intense national media coverage the operation received drove tens of thousands of dollars in small donations to the offices of the Tombstone Tumbleweed, a newspaper then owned by Simcox. (Former MCDC national coordinator Gary Cole used the same "tens of thousands" estimate in The Washington Times article.) Gaddy said some of the checks were made out to Simcox, some to Gilchrist.

"I asked Chris how the donations were being handled. He stated all of the checks and donations directed to Gilchrist were being separated and given to him. At the time, I believed him," Gaddy said. "Later, I asked some of the people who were working in the Tumbleweed office how the donations were being accounted for. I was told that regardless of who the donations were designated for, they all went into the same account -- the one belonging to Simcox." ..."